Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I recently purchased both plastic and metal models from someone and they came over-primed with insanely crappy primer...

Any ideas on the removal w/o damaging the plactic or causing the adhesive to go bad? If I have to re-glue them, that's fine

Thanks!

SIMPLE GREEN!

Super Clean, it comes in a big purple jug at walmart and automotive parts retailers. The contents of the jug is also purple and its also super.

If anything can get rid of the primer and not destroy the plastic of the model its Super Clean. Now, there is a chance that the person that had these models before you used a primer that was ment for automotives and plastic in which case your probably not going to be able to remove the primer without destroying the model. You can use some harsher chemicals on the metal models if you have to. You should be fairly safe using an actual paint striper on the metal models without hurting them. If this is the route you go I recommend Zip Strip.

Right on, thanks guys. I'll try it...and hopefully it'll work. I don't want to buy more crisis suits!!!

I have some paint stripper already...but after stripping/painting my truck and stripping/staining my cabinets, I never want to touch that stuff again lol IT BURNS

Catyrpelius wrote:Super Clean, it comes in a big purple jug at walmart and automotive parts retailers. The contents of the jug is also purple and its also super.

If anything can get rid of the primer and not destroy the plastic of the model its Super Clean. Now, there is a chance that the person that had these models before you used a primer that was ment for automotives and plastic in which case your probably not going to be able to remove the primer without destroying the model. You can use some harsher chemicals on the metal models if you have to. You should be fairly safe using an actual paint striper on the metal models without hurting them. If this is the route you go I recommend Zip Strip.

This. Super clean will remove just about anything given enough time, even super glue. However, if you leave models in it for too long, a couple months or so, it will begin to eat away at them.

I've used Simple Green, but it won't always get rid of primer, even after 2 or 3 baths. It gets rid of paint no problem, but primer is often an issue.

About the only stripper you don't have to wear gloves for is acetone. Everything else, use thick rubber gloves because it's acid.

And acid hurts. A lot.

Brother SRM wrote:I've used Simple Green, but it won't always get rid of primer, even after 2 or 3 baths. It gets rid of paint no problem, but primer is often an issue.

Quite so, one such cheep primer that seems somewhat popular here is the wlamart 95 cent stuff which will NOT COME OFF!

However it (simple green) simply melts through water based paints.

Lonecoon wrote:About the only stripper you don't have to wear gloves for is acetone. Everything else, use thick rubber gloves because it's acid.

And acid hurts. A lot.

You should be wearing gloves and eye protection for acetone as well. That stuff will dry out your skin hella fast and can blind you if splashed in your eyes.

Acetone free nail polish will remove primer.

Don't leave plastic models in it for more than 10 minutes as it will affect the plastic too.

Certain primers have more "tooth" than others. Primer is used as it bonds to the material in a way that other paint cannot, be it a chemical reaction, or particle type.

If your primer is based on a reaction, you'll find it hard to remove with anything. A place I used to work made large bits of kit for oil rigs. They were marine treated, and the primer used reacted with the surface of the metal to form a seal. Nothing would get that stuff off apart from removing the first mil or so of metal.

Brother SRM wrote:I've used Simple Green, but it won't always get rid of primer, even after 2 or 3 baths. It gets rid of paint no problem, but primer is often an issue.

True, but it does take off the crappy primer that makes models all gritty looking. They may still be the color of the primer, but the layer of crap has been removed the detail in the model is brought back out so it can be primed again.

Simple green! Simple green! Simple green!

Requesting sticky again!